Bugatti?

[H16]

Can anyone give me more information on the Type 251 that ran in the French GP in 1956? They have always been one of my favorites and I would like to learn more about their only Grand Prix start in the modern era.

[Vitesse]

That's a very general question H16 - could you be more specific and I'll try to help!!

BTW didn't the FIA ban you from F1??

[H16]

Yea, I got banned

Anyway, didn't it have a weird engine layout. And why did it only run once!?

[Mekola]

There is a one good source about the Bugatti Type 251:
http://8w.forix.com/8w-1098.html

[Vitesse]

The T251 was Bugatti's final fling in Grand Prix racing, and along with their only other post-war single-seater, the T73C, a sad finale to the story of a great marque.

Ettore Bugatti died in 1947, having seen his factory virtually destroyed by the ravages of war. Ironically, it was another war which would briefly revive the fortunes of the company: Bugatti rebuilt itself on the profits from lucrative military contracts necessary for France's rearguard action in Vietnam. French railway money was also forthcoming to help rebuild Molsheim (did you know Bugatti built railcars and maintained SNCF locomotives?)

Work started on the T251 in 1953, with an ambitious aim of running six cars for the following season, but the disastrous French defeat at Dien Bien Phu and withdrawal from Indo-China meant that the military contracts dried up. Nevertheless, work continued (very slowly) on the T251 until finally, in November 1955, a prototype was presented to the press at Entzheim aerodrome.

This prototype car was intended to prove the viability of the chassis and the transverse-mounted engine was a test unit, not running at full power. Designed by Colombo, the engine was a 2430cc straight 8, arrnged as two fours end-to-end. Early output was claimed at 230bhp at 8000rpm, with a forecast potential of 275bhp - had this been achieved, it would have been very respectable against Mercedes, Lancia-Ferrari and Maserati. The transverse mid-mounted engine meant the car was very wide, an appearance accentuated by the bulbous pannier fuel tanks.

Trintignant was hired as works driver and in extensive tests at Entzheim found the short-wheelbase prototype quite a handful to drive. The French GP was looming and pressure was brought to bear on Colombo to run the car, despite his protests that it was not ready.

Trintignant tested the car at Reims the week before the race but was unable to provide much in the way of lifting the gloom over Molsheim: the military contracts were gone and the company was spiralling towards bankruptcy.

A second, longer wheelbase, car was hastily assembled and both arrived at Reims for the GP. Trintignant found that the prototype had terrific traction, especially out of Thillois and Muizon, but the front tended to lift at speed and the steering felt vague. It was under-powered and his best time was almost twenty seconds off Fangio's pace. Trintignant had the newer engine installed in the older chassis overnight and in the race he was trundling around at the back when the throttle started to stick: it was blocked with grit and dust and the car was retired.

The cars returned to Molsheim, but before any further work could be carried out the plug was pulled on the racing programme. Bugatti went broke shortly afterwards and the cars disappeared into the Schlumpf collection, not to emerge for 15 years.

[H16]

Thanks so much, I cannot believe that the Bugatti was so poor. BUT it looks like the car was innovative and I am sorry to see it didn't get the chance to be worked out.